2014-1120 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes:Regular City Commission Meeting November 20.2014 City of Sunny Isles Beach.Florida give him a chance to take this and put it here and let's make a beautiful park right here, something we will all be proud of. We are not asking for one extra density,we are not asking for one extra foot, all we are asking for is five (5) extra stories. Put the five (5) stories here and we are not asking for any variance at all for density. It is the same density, the same square footage, the same FAR, to him it is simple. It would be a shame if this is not approved, a beautiful garden with solar light and sculptures and it will be lit up at night. We would have galleries along here, we don't have one single gallery in the City, and so let's make it something great. Mayor Edelcup opened the public hearing, and closed the public hearing as there were no speakers. Stanley Price said that they have met with the neighbors and in fact we have a neighbor here to support the project. We have reached out to the community around the property. Commissioner Gatto said on the bottom page can you remove that and continue with the concept of the open garden area, and keep the project at just those two pieces of the cake? Kobi Karp said he wishes he could but he cannot because if he does not put this piece then he loses parking, units, FAR, and he loses a lot of space. This is a very valuable piece of land that works efficiently for us and that was the first design we did and that is why we said how it is how can we improve it and that is how we came to put it on top. And so the short answer is no, if I lose this then I really don't have the project. Stanley Price pointed out that by rolling the height to what we respectfully suggest to you, we do away with the variance of the parking garage. We keep it at 50 and based upon that calculation we will still have over 100 parking spaces in access the matter we serve the Newport which we have an obligation to do but additional parking for the City in this area. Kobi Karp said just to show how far we went with this project, basement parking here besides the parking above and so we did not spare any expense on this project at all. Commissioner Gatto said you are a pretty talented guy, you can probably do something beautiful with that,and Kobi Karp said the as of right is going to be beautiful. Commissioner Gatto said she wishes we were able to see something schematic along the lines of that. Kobi Karp said it would be something that goes along these lines with another cube that comes in front of it that steps up and up. And again,the idea is that besides the building he now has the opportunity to give something back that does not exist. What we thought was if we can get this land to become a green space that is in a highly visible place, we have then really created from our lemon, lemonade because instead of taking that space we are giving it and making it into a public park to become a real asset to the City. Commissioner Gatto said she understands she is trying to avoid the issue of variances, and one of the issues that she had was that it would be a mixed use hotel condo, and she just voted against a hotel in the City. The other question she had was where does the gas station come into play? Kobi Karp said the gas station is immediately to the north, he has an aerial of it. Commissioner Gatto asked if that was up against the building, and Kobi Karp said no. Mayor Edelcup said it would be up in the front section,the white section. Commissioner Gatto asked if he would have that same problem if he were to work with the as of right schematic, the gas station issue is what she is saying? Kobi Karp said no, the gas station is not an issue. What would happen is that when you run up, instead of having a green open space and three (3) canopies, you would have a structure there you wouldn't have a building, which is fine but it is not great. In his opinion this is a great solution just because of that element of the piece comes forward. 18